Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-31
REVIVING HENNEPIN.
The Measure Gets Good Boost at
a Chicago Conference.
The Committee Having the Matter In
Charge Hold an Important Meeting
a Bill Presented.

The Hennepin canal scheme, the pro.
ject for improving the Illinois river and q
the plan for obtaining water connection
between Lake Michigan and the Missis-
sippi river, all received decided impetus U
at Chicago Thursday afternoon. Last
fall convention Of persons interested in
the project was held in Peoria during the
river convention and a committee was
appointed to take some action in the
matter. Thursday this committee invit>
ed a number Of prominent Chicagoans to
meet with it in Judge Prendergast's court
| room and discuss the situation. Among
those present were Bedford Burnham. j.
| J. dlessne, T. B. Brown, Senator Far>
well. Judge Prendergast, H. B. Hurd DIR.
F. W. Reilly, L. E. Cooley, o. j. Guth-
RTE, J. c. Dore D. L. Storey. N. P. Ma
hony, A. c. Hesing. R. W. Durham.
Frank Lawler, Benizette Williams, Pro-
fessor II. B. Herr, F. Bauman, Hugh J
Brady. Most of the talking was done by
Judge Prendergast who, as chairman of
the committee, called the meeting to orr
der. Senator Farwell was one of the
most interested auditors, and seemed to
be absorbing the points made with view
to enlightening the senate at the proper
time. Congressman Lswler dropped in
long enough to pledge his hearty support
to the measure proposed by the commit |
tee. A big map of the state of Illinois |
was displayed, and Judge Prendergast |
pointed out the direction the canal would |
take He said large interests existed in
the Calumet region and many people
thought that that section of country
should not be slighted, though it was not
certain where the connection with Lake
Michigan should be made.
The judge then stated that the commit
tee had embodied its views in a bill
which it was desired to have congress
TO pass upon, and the bill was submitted
4 to the committee. 1t provides for the
creation of Lake and Gulf Waterway
Commission, to consist of five members
and it is provided that:
W The president of the United States
M SHALL by and with the advice and consent
of the senate appoint five commissioners,
two Of whom shall be selected from the
engineer corps of the army and three
from civil life, one of whom shall be a
civil engineer. And any vacancy which
NAV occur in the. commission shall In like
manner be filed by the president of the
United States; and he shall designate one
of the commissioners to be president OF
the commission. The commissioners an
n pointed from the engineer corps OF the
IL army shall receive no other pay or com
pensation than is now allowed them by
rs law The other three commissioners
shall receive as pay and compensation fol
their services each the sum of 5000 PEI
~ anuum and travelling expenses, and shall
hold their Office for the term of fou
years, provided, that of those first ap
pointed the term of one shall expire IL
two years, the term of another In thre
years aud the term of the third in fou
years, all to be computed from the dat
this act becomes a law, and may be re
moved from office for cause by the presi
dent of the United States. And the CON
missioners appointed from the enginee
corps of the army shall remain in oft1c
subject to the removal by the presider
or. of the United States.
And it shall be the duty of said con
mission to direct and complete survey
de- examinations, Investigations, topograph
ical, photographed. hydIometrical an
otherwise, between the head waters
est Lake Michigan at Chicago and the Mi
sissippi river, by way of the Illinois an
Desplaines river, as may be deemed niece
the sary by said commission, to carry out u
purposes of this act. And TO enable 50
commission to complete such survey
examinations. and Investigations. t
secretary Of war shall, when request
by said commission, detail from the e
gineer corps of the army such officers a
men as may be necessary, and shall pls
in charge and for the use of said comm
sion such vessel or vessels and such n
chinery and instruments rs may be dee
los ed necessary The secretary of the tire
ury shall, when requested by said CO
mission, in like manner detail from
nnS | CDdSt huu RCOuCtiI gum UNIV
and men as may be necessary, and ST
place in charge and for the use of ST
,nts. commission suen vessel OF VesselS ;,
75c. he under his control and NAV be deem
necessary. And the secretary of the nj
shall in like manner, on request OF
commission, detail such officers and n
from the navy and the naval departm
as may be necessary to enable said c.
lnI mission to examine, investigate and
port upon the importance and relation
the defenses of the union, of the worl
n be done as contemplated by this act,
uP shall place in charge and for the US
said commission such vessel or yes:
p, 90 machinery and instruments as may
Lug under his control and may be dee
COM necessary; and the said commission n
with the approval of said secretar
war, employ such additional force
assistance and provide by purchase
otherwise such means, appliances
property as NAV be deemed necessary
carrying out and completion of the
pose of this act.
-, A desultory discussion followed
reading of the bill, in which Eng
las Cooley and Major Hamburg took
principal parts. The latter thought
the end desired would be better nc
plished by inserting clause in the
river and harbor bill, making the re
lite appropriation. Moreover, he the
that testing out 100000 cubic fet
wster minute from the lake would
Cuffs, er ITS level SO that a large amour
dredging would have to be done
rivers Mr.. Cooley took excepti'
this statement. declaring that the lie
the lake would not be lowered five
in twenty years. John G. Dore
made short speech, setting fort
Is, advantages to be derived from obti
cry, water connection with the big river
Etc. said that by the treaty of 1912 Meth